Improvement



FFICEQ PATENT D. W". O. SANFORD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN REFRIGERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,802, dated November 13, 1855.

` and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, of which-- Figure l exhibits the refrigerator in perspective, and also shows the interior arrangements; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the refrigerator.

My invention consists in an improvement in refrigerators, whereby the whole of the contained air is kept in continual rotation, puriiication, desiccation, and refrigeration, and with economy ol ice. rIhe circulation of the air of my refrigerator is entirely conned, and consists of a continuous movement or rotation of the air confined within the apartment without any communication with the external air, except when it becomes unavoidable from opening the refrigerator. I have found for puriiication that external air is not necessary, and it is obvious that any arrangement by which a current of external air after being cooled is passed through the refrigerator must be attended with a great consumption of ice, and that any arrangement which admits of stagnation of air in any part of the refrigerator, and does not compel circulation of the air throughout the entire apartments,is highly objectionable. Both of these conditions I have avoided, as will be seen vfrom the following de` seription.

Fig. 1 exhibits clearly the arrangement of the interior of my refrigerator. Vit-hin a suitable casing, A, I insert a partition, B, with openings B B at top and bottom, so that there is free communication between the apartments C and D. At a high point in one of the apartments I place the ice-receptacle E. This receptacle is perforated on the sides and bottom, so as to allow free passage of air through and in contact with the ice.

from coming into contact with the sides of the receptacle by the projections F F, which in this case are made by punching the holes in such a way that a portion of the metal is pro- The ice is prevented truded, as seen at F F. The bottom of the icereceptacle is funnel-shaped, so as to conduct the water of the melting ice to a central discharge, I, whence it falls into the cup'or flaring end of the escape-pipe K. rlhis pipe passes directly out through the side of the refrigerator, and it is important that the escape-pipe should occupy as little room as possible, in order not to obstruct the motion ofthe air. The shelves L are perforated to allow of the free transit of air; and it will now be readily seen that when the ice is placed in its receptacle and the refrigerator closed the whole of the contained air will bev set in motion and cont-inue to circulate or revolve as long as there is any ice or refrigerating material in the receptacle.

The operation is as follows: The denser air in contact with the ice and walls ofthe receptacle descends and its place is immediately supplied by warmer air from apartment D through the opening B. The dense air descending through the entire apartment C and passing through the opening B2 keeps up a continual displacement ofthe whole ofthe contained air of the refrigerator. The apartment D has a higher temperature than apartment O, and the temperature varies with a gradual rise from the time the air leaves the receptacle until it arrives at the upper part of apartment D. It is evident that this rotation of the air will continue until tlieiee is melted and an equilibriu n1 of temperature takes place throughout the entire refrigerator. As the air passes through the apartments it imbibcs moisture from fruits, vegetables, meats, and other articles, and when it comes into contact with the ice its capacity for moisture is diminished by condensation and the moisture is condensed upon the ice and passes off with the waste water. The circulating air thus being continually desiccated, every part of the apartment is kept from mold and dampness. The exhalations and odor of meats and other articles are also precipitated upon the ice with the A condensed vapor, and thus the entire apartments are kept sweet.

I am aware that various modes have been tried and used for circulating air in refrigerators; but I ain not aware that in any instance a complete and continued rotation, purification, desiceation,and refrigeration of the whole of the contained air of the refrigerator has been compelled, as it is in my invention; and I thorefore claim- The arrangement herein set forth for causing the perpetual rotation of the whole of the air contained within the refrigeratiiig-apartments, said arrangement consisting7 when the refrigerator is closed, of an endless passage or chamber, the Walls, shelves7 and ice-recepta cle of which are so placed and constructed that the air is compelled to circulate through 

